Sunday 14 December 2014

Cllr Tim Brett's Community Council Update for December 2014

TIM BRETT’S REPORT
NEWPORT, WORMIT AND FORGAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2014

1. Fife Council Budget Pack 2015/18 – Public Consultation is now taking place on the proposed budget for 2015/16 and the subsequent two years. The public consultation continues until 15 January. Of particular interest are:-

a. Possible changes to education provision in schools which could involve changes to the length of the school day and
b. Possible changes to Day Care arrangements locally, particularly at the Leng Home. The Council have indicated that they are looking for an alternative provider and that a review of day care arrangements will be undertaken.

2. New Madras – The detailed planning application was considered at the North East Fife Planning Committee on 10 December and was approved.

3. Wormit War Memorial – The cost of cleaning, repointing etc. has been estimated at £2,980 plus VAT.

4. Newport Skateboard Collective –An initial meeting of the new liaison group was held on the 10th December. The skate park is expected to be built in Spring 2015 and completed in June 2015.More details will be available once the contract is let .All of this will be communicated to local residents once the details are known. If there are any other residents who would like to join the group , please let me know.

5. Madras Late Bus – Approval has been given for a second late bus following overcrowding problems that have occurred in recent weeks.

6. Wall, Mount Stewart Road –Fife Council have now received detailed proposals from the owners engineers regarding the repairs. It is hoped that this will allow repairs to be undertaken in the near future.

7. Police Community Engagement Meetings – I believe that changes to the CEM meetings have been agreed but I am awaiting confirmation of changes to dates. The next local meeting should be on 12 January at 7.00pm in the Blyth Hall.

8. Parking at Leuchars Railway Station – Following concerns raised with me by a Newport resident I have highlighted that 290 parking tickets have been issued at the station since the 1 April 2014. I am still awaiting the timetable for the expansion of the car parking facilities at the station.

9. Elmwood College – As members will have seen in the Fife Herald, Fife College have announced that they will be leaving the Elmwood Campus in June 2016 due to cuts in funding. Fife College currently provide a range of non-land based courses at Elmwood including courses for special needs students. I have written to the Principal of the College about this.

10. Waterstone Crook Community Sports Hub – A further meeting of the above group took place on 2 December and there was discussion about the fitness area at Waterstone Crook. Stephen Rottger will be meeting Scott Urquhart, Service Manager to discuss this.

11. Changes to Street Lighting Columns – Fife Council Transportation are proposing new street lighting columns in the conservation area in Robert Street, Myrtle Terrace, Kilnburn, Victoria Street and Castle Brae. I would welcome the Community Councils comments on these proposals.

12. Steps down from Gowrie Park – have been cleaned.

13. Gaelic Road Signs – Fife Council has received funding from the Scottish Government to change boundary and main road signs to bi-lingual. Signs will be changed only as they need replacing.

14. HMIE Community Learning and Development – Madras Area – the Council’s CLD Service in the local area was recently inspected by HMIE. Scores of “good or very good” were awarded against the four categories. I can make copies of the report available to anyone who would like to see it.

15. Fife Council’s Energy Programme, Wind power – I have received a further update on the above programme.

16. Tay Road Bridge Slipway – Work to remove overgrown trees and vegetation will be undertaken before Christmas.

17. Craigshannoch Park, Wormit, Path – Following an accident, part of the path has been fenced off.

18. Tay Plan, November Newsletter – I have received a copy of the above newsletter. 121 responses have been made to the main issues report and they are being considered.

19. Wormit Primary School Code Club – has received a Star Club Award. The Code Club is a nationwide network of after school Coding Clubs for children aged 9 – 11 years that teach children to make computer games, animations and web sites.

20. Issues at Forgan Roundabout – Following discussion at the last meeting, I contacted Colin Stirling and he has asked Carol Dunn and Gordon Hughes to liaise with the Chair of the Community Council about this.

21. Forestry Commission, Tentsmuir – The Forestry Commission are reviewing facilities for visitors at Tentsmuir and Reres forests. I will be meeting with them early in the New Year.